Analysis and Validation of an Improved Method for Measuring HF Surface Wave Radar Antenna Pattern

Antenna pattern distortion incorporating the systematic differences among array elements is one of the most important factors that decrease the accuracy of radar direction of arrival estimation. In this letter, a new antenna pattern measurement (APM) method based on a fully-digital radar receiver and a portable signal source is presented. Compared with previous methods, the proposed method not only improves the measurement accuracy, but also reduces the complexity and time cost of measurement. APM results of a compact high-frequency (HF) antenna measured in two modes are depicted, both showing that two independent measurements at the same site are highly consistent. Moreover, the method is further verified by a comparison of radar measured radial current velocity with acoustic Doppler current profiler data.